Sukta 65
Sukta 1.65
Gautama Rāhūgaṇa (traditional attribution for RV 1.65)
Agni (probable; RV 1.65 is an Agni hymn in the standard Anukramaṇī tradition)
Gāyatrī/Anuṣṭubh uncertain from single pāda excerpt; full hymn needed for secure meter
ऋग्वेदस्य १.६५ सूक्ते अग्निः स्तूयते—स गूढोऽपि सुलभः ज्वालः, गुहायां मृग इव अन्वेष्यः; स्तोत्रेण युज्यते, हव्यानि च देवेभ्यो वहति। अस्य अनिवार्यः वेगः प्रशस्यते—मुक्ताश्व इव, पूर्णनदीप्रवाह इव—तं च दूरदीप्तिं विद्वांसं ‘ऋताज्जातम्’ इति निरूप्य, उपासकान् तमसः प्राक्तनात् प्रकाशमानं ऋतक्रमं प्रति नयति।
Mantras
Mantra 1
पश्वा न तायुं गुहा चतन्तं नमो युजानं नमो वहन्तम् ॥
पश्वा इव तायुम् गुहायां चतन्तं स अन्वेषन् गच्छति; युजानाय नमः, वहन्ते नमः—तस्मै वयं नमो वहामः।
Mantra 2
सजोषा धीराः पदैरनु ग्मन्नुप त्वा सीदन्विश्वे यजत्राः ॥
सजोषाः धीराः पदैरनु गच्छन्ति, उप त्वा सीदन्ति; विश्वे यजत्राः त्वत्समीपे निषीदन्ति—चेतन-इच्छाग्नेः परितः समवेताः।
Mantra 3
ऋतस्य देवा अनु व्रता गुर्भुवत्परिष्टिर्द्यौर्न भूम ॥
ऋतस्य देवाः अनु व्रतानि यान्ति; तेषां परिष्टिः द्यौर्न भूमेव—भवतो जगतः धारणाय निश्चिता सीमा भवति।
Mantra 4
वर्धन्तीमापः पन्वा सुशिश्विमृतस्य योना गर्भे सुजातम् ॥
वर्धन्तीमापः पन्वा सुशिश्विम्—ऋतस्य योनौ गर्भे सुजातं तम् वर्धयन्ति। सत्यऋतस्य गुह्याद् दोलात् दैवी शक्तिरुदेति, पोष्यते च।
Mantra 5
पुष्टिर्न रण्वा क्षितिर्न पृथ्वी गिरिर्न भुज्म क्षोदो न शम्भु ॥
पुष्टिर्न रण्वा, क्षितिर्न पृथ्वी; गिरिर्न भुज्म, क्षोदो न शम्भु—एवं स दैवी शक्तिः स्थिता, धारयित्री मङ्गलप्रदा च।
Mantra 6
अत्यो नाज्मन्त्सर्गप्रतक्तः सिन्धुर्न क्षोदः क ईं वराते ॥
अत्यो नाज्मन् सर्गप्रतक्तः, सिन्धुर्न क्षोदः—यदा स दैवोऽग्निर्वेगेन प्रवर्तते, तं क ईं वारयेत्?
Mantra 7
जामिः सिन्धूनां भ्रातेव स्वस्रामिभ्यान्न राजा वनान्यत्ति ॥
सिन्धूनां जामिः स्वस्रां प्रति भ्रातेव, महत्सु मध्ये विचरति। राजा इव वनानि स्वीकुरुते—अग्निरधिपतिः, यः पृथिव्याः प्रसवान् कर्मणे स्वाधीनान् करोति।
Mantra 8
यद्वातजूतो वना व्यस्थादग्निर्ह दाति रोमा पृथिव्याः ॥
यदा वातजूतः स वनेषु व्यस्तारयति, तदा अग्निर्हि पृथिव्याः रोमाणि उद्गमयति—पृष्ठस्वभावं स्पन्दनेन प्रबोधयति।
Mantra 9
श्वसित्यप्सु हंसो न सीदन्क्रत्वा चेतिष्ठो विशामुषर्भुत् ॥
अप्सु श्वसिति, हंस इव तत्र सीदन्; क्रत्वा—विवेकयुक्तेन संकल्पेन—स चेतिष्ठतमः। स विशां प्रति उषर्भूत् भवति।
Mantra 10
सोमो न वेधा ऋतप्रजातः पशुर्न शिश्वा विभुर्दूरेभाः ॥
सोम इव वेधा ऋतप्रजातः; पशुरिव शिशुः विभुः सन् दूरेभ्यः प्रकाशते—ऋतस्य दूरप्रसरा शक्तिरग्निः।
Inside Sukta 65
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni is approached with reverence as a hidden, searching presence—tracked in the secret place like prey in a cave—worthy of repeated homage.
- Development
Agni is depicted as the one who yokes energies and bears offerings; imagery intensifies with speed and unstoppable motion, showing his divine power once released.
- Climax
The hymn reaches a peak in portraying Agni’s unrestrainable rush—like a racing steed and a flooding river—signaling the triumphant ascent of the sacrifice.
- Where it settles
Agni is affirmed as a knower and maker, “ṛta-born,” far-shining and wide in being, establishing the worshipper in truth-order and effective offering.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the radiant fire-principle: kindled by humans yet divine, hidden in wood and in the “cave,” awakening as an all-seeing guest and priest who carries homage and offerings.
- Cosmic functionMediator between worlds—conveying offerings to the devas, sustaining sacrifice, and upholding ṛta by transforming matter into luminous, ascending power.
- Inner significanceThe awakened will and discernment (inner flame) that searches within obscurity, gathers scattered energies, and propels the seeker toward truth-aligned action and clarity.
The seer
- Gautama RāhūgaṇaGautama gotra; connected in later tradition with the Rāhūgaṇa line · A Gautama seer associated with early Agni praise, emphasizing Agni as the seeker-revealer in hidden places and as the carrier of worship into the realm of ṛta.
Famous verses
paśvā na tāyuṃ guhā catantam
sindhur na kṣodaḥ ka īṃ varāte
ṛtaprajātaḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Hotṛ (sacrificial priest) and messenger
- Hidden/secret presence that can be discovered
- Irresistible force when kindled (swift, surging)
- Bearer of offerings and prayers
- Born of ṛta (truth-order), far-shining
Also by this seer
- Gautama-family (Gautamāḥ) hymns in the Rigveda are broadly associated with Mandala 1 Agni and allied deities in later Anukramaṇī traditions
- Themes shared with other early Agni hymns: Agni as messenger (dūta), priest (hotṛ), and light that discloses the path of ṛta
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/hearth and arrange kindling (samidh) with purification (ācamana) and silence/attention.
- Kindle Agni and recite invocatory verses, acknowledging him as the hidden one to be ‘found’ and awakened.
- Offer ghee into the flame with homage (namaḥ), requesting Agni to yoke the powers and bear the oblation to the gods.
- Continue with additional oblations and requests for protection, right impulse, and unobstructed movement of the rite.
- Conclude with a final offering and a sealing prayer that Agni, born of ṛta, shine far and secure order and well-being.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
- Grain/cakes in extended rites (optional)
- Soma-analogy praise (as mantra-content; not necessarily a Soma offering here)
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn primarily praises Agni, the sacred fire, as the priest and messenger who carries offerings and prayers from humans to the gods.
It points to Agni’s secret presence—fire latent in wood and also the inner flame of insight—something that must be sought, awakened, and honored through right effort and ritual.
Kindle and honor the divine flame so it can gather your energies, carry your intention upward, and align your actions with ṛta (truth-order), moving forward without obstruction.
Ask anything about Sukta 65 of the Rig Veda
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